Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?” And the Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?” Judges 13: 17, 18, NKJV.
Merciful Savior, gracious God, we praise you this morning, the first day of the year 2009, for the privilege of sitting at Your feet, and learning wonderful things about You. For this privilege we rejoice in the name of Jesus! Amen.
Yesterday we took a peek at the encounter between Jacob and the “Angel of the LORD.” Today we look at another encounter with the Angel of the LORD. This time it is between Manoah and his wife, the soon-to-be parents of Samson. The situation is quite different. This is a childless couple. When the Angel of the LORD appeared the first time, the woman was alone. The second time the Angel of the LORD appeared, the woman was, once again, alone. This time, she ran and brought her husband to hear the message of the LORD, for himself.
This is so important! Even though Manoah’s wife told him what the Angel had said (13: 6,7); Manoah wanted his own encounter with the the Heavenly Visitor! This was so important to him, that he prayed and asked God for the Visitor to return (8)! He wanted to see and hear for himself! For some of our prayers to be answered, there may be a waiting period; some longer than others; but when the soul desires to see and hear God, the response is almost immediate! Scripture informs us, “And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field…” (9). In his encounter with the Angel, Manoah loses no time! “Are you the Man who spoke to this woman?” Brace yourself for the Angel’s answer, “I am.” Although this response does not seem to carry the same connotation of Exodus 3: 14, I find it very symbolic. The greatness of what God does, is the result of who God is!
Manoah asked the Angel to explain everything concerning his wife’s pregnancy. (On another occasion we will speak about the importance of listening to God’s voice during pregnancy.) After he had heard the instructions for himself, Manoah prepares to exercise his Eastern hospitality; an offer that the Angel of the Lord declines. But, in its place, He suggests that Manoah could present a burnt offering to the LORD. While Manoah is preparing to make his offering, He asks the Angel His name. The Angel’s response to Manoah is almost identical to His response to Jacob: “Why do you ask my name…” But there is more, “… seeing it is wonderful?” Some translations have this declaration as two separate sentences: “Why do you ask my name? It is too wonderful” (NRSV).
And then God shows Manoah and his wife His name (19, 20). The magnitude of your theophany might be in proportion to your persistence. “It is too wonderful! Only as You see who I am, will My name make any sense to You. I am the God of wonders! The God of miracles! The God who reveals Himself to His creatures! The God who inhabits the praise [worship] of His people! The God who never ceases to amaze you with His grandiosity; the God of power and might!” Our God!
In this New Year, God wants to reveal Himself more wondrously to you than He ever has before. Ask and you will receive!
1) How long have you been visiting the standonthepromises website?
a) one year
b) 6 months
X c) less than a month
d) Other (explain)
2) How did you become aware of this website?
a) A friend
x b) Surfing the web
WAS SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES ON ‘NAME WONDERFUL’
c) Other (explain)
3) Have you told anyone about the website?
x a) Yes
REPRINTED YOUR DEVOTIONAL for January 13, 2009 accredited to you and your website ON PRIVATE YAHOO GROUP WEBPAGE Rejoice in Jesus Christ
b) No
c) Not yet
d) Other (explain)
4) What do you like the most about this website? Why?
a) The devotionals
b) The prayers
c) I like them both equally
X d) The topics
e) Other (explain)
5) What do you like the least about this website?
a) The devotionals
b) The prayers
c) The topics
X d) Other (explain) MY FIRST TIME VISIT, TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE WHAT NOT TO LIKE
6) If you could change something on the website what would it be, and why?
a) I would change the format of the devotionals
b) I would change the format of the prayers
X c) Other (explain) SAME ANSWER AS #5 ABOVE
7) Has the website been a blessing to you in any way?
X a) Yes (explain) ENCOURAGEMENT, INFORMATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, FELLOWSHIP
b) No (explain)
c) Other (explain)
8) What changes would you like to see for the New Year?
a) More variety (Kid’s corner, Family topics, Health topics)
b) Topics by month
X c) Other (explain) TOO EARLY TO SAY. SO FAR SO GOOD! MAYBE AN INDEX SOMEWHERE OR A SEARCH ENGINE.
9) Will you invite others to visit the website during the new year?
X a) Yes ALREADY DID IN MY YAHOO GROUP WEBPAGE
b) No
c) I don’t know (explain)
10) Will you be visiting us during the year 2009?
X a) Yes FREQUENTLY
b) No
c) Maybe (explain)
X d) Other (explain) MAY GOD, THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS, STRENGHTEN AND SUSTAIN YOU IN PREACHING HIS GOOD NEWS AND SHARING GLAD TIDINGS.
1) How long have you been visiting the standonthepromises website?
a) one year
b) 6 months
X c) less than a month
d) Other (explain)
2) How did you become aware of this website?
a) A friend
x b) Surfing the web
WAS SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES ON ‘NAME WONDERFUL’
c) Other (explain)
3) Have you told anyone about the website?
x a) Yes
REPRINTED YOUR DEVOTIONAL for January 13, 2009 accredited to you and your website ON PRIVATE YAHOO GROUP WEBPAGE Rejoice in Jesus Christ
b) No
c) Not yet
d) Other (explain)
4) What do you like the most about this website? Why?
a) The devotionals
b) The prayers
c) I like them both equally
X d) The topics
e) Other (explain)
5) What do you like the least about this website?
a) The devotionals
b) The prayers
c) The topics
X d) Other (explain) MY FIRST TIME VISIT, TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE WHAT NOT TO LIKE
6) If you could change something on the website what would it be, and why?
a) I would change the format of the devotionals
b) I would change the format of the prayers
X c) Other (explain) SAME ANSWER AS #5 ABOVE
7) Has the website been a blessing to you in any way?
X a) Yes (explain) ENCOURAGEMENT, INFORMATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, FELLOWSHIP
b) No (explain)
c) Other (explain)
8) What changes would you like to see for the New Year?
a) More variety (Kid’s corner, Family topics, Health topics)
b) Topics by month
X c) Other (explain) TOO EARLY TO SAY. SO FAR SO GOOD! MAYBE AN INDEX SOMEWHERE OR A SEARCH ENGINE.
9) Will you invite others to visit the website during the new year?
X a) Yes ALREADY DID IN MY YAHOO GROUP WEBPAGE
b) No
c) I don’t know (explain)
10) Will you be visiting us during the year 2009?
X a) Yes FREQUENTLY
b) No
c) Maybe (explain)
X d) Other (explain) MAY GOD, THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS, STRENGHTEN AND SUSTAIN YOU IN PREACHING HIS GOOD NEWS AND SHARING GLAD TIDINGS.